10-27-2002, 04:13 PM
[font "Arial"][size 2]We fished Thursday with Paul Olef at MAY Reef off Bonita Beach, and in Estero Bay. We caught jack cravalle, which we fed to a couple of big barracudas, and saw thousands of Spanish mackerel running off New Pass. We caught and released a bunch of those, using small (1 1/2 inch) shiners we netted in the bay.The best way to hook those baits is through the tail, then free-line with them. If fishing with artificials, a tiny silver spoon works best. Using thread herrings we netted at MAY Reef, we caught and released big jack cravalle, to 15 pounds, by the Big Carlos bridge. Then, in front of Lovers' Key, we were broken off by a couple of big grouper, and released two snook to 23 inches. Friday, fishing with the Sheffer party 8 miles off the Ritz Carlton in Naples, we free-lined shrimp to catch and release 25 king mackerel to 17 pounds, with the largest one bitten in half by a barracuda as we reeled it up. We also caught Spanish mackerel to 24 inches, mangrove snapper, porkfish, and triggerfish, and released a tad-too-short, 32 inch cobia, which put up a fun fight. Saturday, the Gallo party fished with us in the backwaters toward Wiggins, and the docks behind Lely Barefoot Beach. Using shrimp and shiners, we caught keeper mangrove snapper and sheepshead, and released striped mojaras (sand bream), jack cravalle to 8 pounds, and stingray. We hooked and lost two snook, under the docks. Find complete info and fish photo album at www.fishbustercharters.com[/size][/font]
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